Barrel-aged beers, single hop ales among Thanksgiving week releases in Bay Area

With Thanksgiving around the corner, Bay Area breweries are releasing new flavors and varieties of beer just in time for the pre-and-post Turkey Day festivities. Here are some highlights of new brews, as well as the return of some old favorites, hitting the Bay this week.

Peninsula:

Hop Dogma – Peninsula locals are treated to a new release from El Granada brewery, Hop Dogma. Their new wet hop IPA, We All Grin For Lupulin, was released this past Sunday. The brewery says the hops in the 6.9 percent alcohol brew — citra, CTZ, and Equinox hops — “create one of the most complex hoppy flavored IPAs we have ever made and [have] an incredible nose to go with it.”

South Bay:

Clandestine – The San Jose brewery is released two of their Hopothetical Single Hop Ales. Clandestine describes the Hopothetical 5256 as a beer using “experimental hop 5256, also known as Experimental Pinefruit,” with a flavor profile of “dank hop with notes of grapefruit, pine, and a touch of spearmint.” Their Hopothetical Comet uses Comet hops and has “subtle notes of lychee and strawberry.”

Outer Bay:

Discretion – The Soquel brewery just tapped their Gather Near Wheatwine, clocking in a 9.4 alcohol percent and 66 IBU. A dark and strong ale and lager hybrid beer brewed with juniper berries and hyssop, the brewery says the beer has “hints of cocoa with herbal overtones and a warming, slightly bitter finish.”

San Francisco:

Cellarmaker – The SoMa neighborhood brewery will be releasing their Highway to the Danker Zone, a Nelson heavy double IPA, this Wednesday on Thanksgiving Eve. The brewery will also be bringing back their quintessential Coffee and Cigarettes. Both beers will be available in growler fills.

Barrel Head Brewhouse – NoPa brewery, Barrel Head Brewhouse, will be releasing their new Saison du Aîné Dinkel. Spicy Wallonian yeast, elderberries and elderflowers contribute to what the brewery describes as “a floral nose and violet-like flavor,” as well as “golden and effervescent.” The brew is hopped with Crystal and Amarillo, and dry-hopped using organic Lake County Cascade hops.

East Bay:

Rare Barrel – Mad Plum, an oak barrel-aged blend of three golden sours with Italian plums, becomes available at the Berkeley brewery this Friday at 4 p.m.

Eight Bridges – The Livermore brewery is bottling their Russian Hill Imperial Stout, set to become available this Friday from 12 to 8 p.m. Aged in Jack Daniels barrels, this special release will be limited to two bottles per person.

North Bay:

Heretic – The Fairfield brewery just tapped a new milk stout, Bovine Intervention. For more information on the beer, contact the brewery via their website or on Facebook.

A Bay Area native with a self-taught appreciation for craft beer, Sam serves as editor of Liquid Bread. A web strategist by trade, Sam has over a decade of experience in digital marketing, content strategy and web management. Contact him at [email protected]

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